Bachelor of Screen Arts - Game Design Major
Course details
| NZQF Level | 7 |
|---|
About the course
Enrol in the Bachelor of Screen Arts Game Design Major and join a creative team dedicated to crafting rich, immersive experiences. You'll be part of a community that values collaboration and creativity-driven solutions. Develop practical skills in 2D and 3D art, animation, and game production, focusing on interactive storytelling with an audience-centred approach. You'll work on both solo and collaborative projects, gaining a diverse range of skills and experiences to prepare you for a rewarding and creative career in game development and the screen industries.
SIT now offers the Screen Arts programme in a HyFlex ('Hybrid-Flexible') format, combining face-to-face and online learning.
The Bachelor of Screen Arts is a three-year programme that allows you to express your creativity using the latest techniques and technology.
You will engage and develop skills from day one in team work and collaboration, building critical creative problem-solving skills vital to working in the screen and gaming industries. You will develop practical skills in both 2D and 3D art and animation production to develop rich immersive experiences for a diverse range of target audiences. You will be able to work on both solo and collaborative projects so you are exposed to a wide variety of skills and experiences which will prepare you for rewarding and creative future.
The Game Design major focuses on developing your creativity and technical skills to develop complex story-based interactive projects. You will be getting experience using techniques from the 2D, 3D game development.
You will learn:
- Character development and Storytelling
- Level and Game Design
- 2D, 3D art and animation for Games and Cut Scenes
- Studio and Digital Drawing
- Develop skills in communications, project management, leadership, and team building.
While technology moves rapidly the skills in critical thinking, research, development, leadership, and storytelling are universally transferable and will give students a foundation which will endure the changing technologies.
Software includes industry standard applications such as: Maya, Zbrush, Houdini, Toom Boom Storyboard Pro, Toom Boom Harmony, Unity, Unreal, Vue, Corel Painter, Substance and Adobe collections and much more. You will be using HPZ series custom build workstations with every machine having a Wacom Cintiq along with a large range of equipment to help you on your journey.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Screen Arts:
- Film Digital
- Animation
- Concept Art & Design
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
School leavers
You’ll need University Entrance (NCEA Level 3), including:
- 14 credits in each of three approved Level 3 subjects
- Literacy: 10 credits at Level 2 or above, including 5 credits in reading and 5 in writing
- Numeracy: 10 credits at Level 1 or above from approved achievement standards, or all three numeracy unit standards: 26623, 26626 and 26627
Mature applicants
If you’re 20 or older when the programme begins, you may apply based on your skills and relevant work or other experience.
An equivalent external or overseas qualification may also be considered, subject to approval by the Head of Faculty.
Special admission
If you’re under 20 and don’t meet the standard entry requirements, you may still be considered in exceptional circumstances if you can demonstrate your ability to succeed in the programme.
You’ll need to have successfully completed an approved course or programme that prepares you for the required academic level.
If you don’t meet the academic criteria, you may also be able to enrol provisionally in one or more Year One courses. After successfully completing these, you can apply for special admission or mature entry.
Portfolio requirements
You’ll need to submit a portfolio with your application that includes:
- A short introduction about yourself and your interests in your chosen field
- A link to or digital samples of your creative work, such as:
- 5 to 10 pieces of digital or traditional artwork
- A short film, animation or game you’ve worked on
- Photographs of a small garment collection or design specification sheets
You may also be asked to attend a short interview with the Programme Manager or an appropriate staff member.
Please submit digital copies, photographs or links to your work. Do not submit original physical items.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language, you’ll need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
Accepted evidence may include eligible previous study completed in English in New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom or the United States, or an approved English language test.
Common test requirements include:
- IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall, with no band below 5.5
- TOEFL iBT: 60, with a writing score of 18
- TOEFL pBT: 550, with TWE 5
- PTE Academic: 50, with no band below 42
- Cambridge English: B2 First, B2 First for Schools, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency, score 169, with no skill below 162
- OET: Grade C or 200 in all sub-tests
- NZCEL: Level 4 Academic
- LanguageCert: C1 Expert International ESOL Written (LRW) Pass, with at least 25/50 in each skill, and Spoken (S) Pass
- Trinity ISE: ISE II, with at least Distinction in each band
Other recognised evidence of English proficiency may also be accepted. Test scores must be achieved in a single test within the two years before enrolment.
*This course is not available to international students.
About the provider
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) provides quality tertiary education and training across a wide range of subjects and qualifications. From certificates to postgraduate studies, we offer NZQA programmes for students to learn at a level and pathway that suits them.
We are home to the Zero Fees Scheme and are the only tertiary provider in New Zealand to offer a no tuition cost education to domestic NZ students for every year of study, at all levels.
We offer SIT programmes at campuses in Invercargill, Queenstown, Gore, and online through SIT2LRN Distance Learning.
We also have a specialised faculty in rural education at Telford in Balclutha, South Otago.